Manama stay alive against Kuwait’s Kazma

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Bahrain league champions Manama Club forced a winner-take-all game three against Kazma of Kuwait last night in their best-ofthree qualification series to the semi-finals of the Gulf sub-zone in the 2022/2023 FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL).

Manama stayed alive in their match-up after defeating their Kuwaiti counterparts 100-90 in a thrilling game two yesterday at Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex in Kuwait City.

The Bahrainis had earlier lost their first meeting 69-83, but were able to fight back in the return match.

The two teams are now headed for an exciting third game, to be played in Bahrain on Monday next week.

Manama used a dominant second quarter where they outscored Kazma 43-18 to take control of the game and turn a 12-20 deficit to a 55-38 lead at the half.

Kazma roared back in the third period and early in the fourth reduced the deficit to just four, 68-72, but Manama regained control and were able to hold on until the final buzzer.

Mohammed Ameer top scored for Manama with 21 points, while Ahmed Salman and Elijah Robinson each contributed 18.

Manama and Kazma were paired off in this knockout stage after Manama finished as runners-up in Group B of the preliminary stage while Kazma were third in Group A.

There is another qualification to the semi-finals series between Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai and Al Nassr Riyadh of Saudi Arabia.

Should Manama overcome their Kazma test, they will earn a berth in the Gulf’s final four, where they will face Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, also over three games.

Those will take place on April 17, April 24 and May 1.

The WASL is a new basketball competition sanctioned by FIBA, the sport’s global governing body.

Manama are one of 16 teams in this inaugural edition.